Shows / The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom
Welcome to The Midlife Momma Podcast, the go-to resource for empty nest moms ready to embrace the next chapter of life with confidence and purpose! Join me, Pamela Henkelman, a certified Empty Nest Coach and proud momma of five, as we navigate this transformative journey together.
Each week, we dive into essential topics that matter most to midlife moms, including:
Setting and maintaining boundaries
Rediscovering your life’s purpose
Mastering effective communication with adult children…
Episodes
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom244. What NOT to Say to Your Struggling Adult Child with Coaches Hayley Caddes & Colin MacDonald
What should you say when your adult child is struggling? And just as important, what should you NOT say? Hayley Caddes and Colin MacDonald from Not Therapy…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom243. How to Support Your Anxious or Depressed Adult Child with Authors Hope Blanton & Christine Gordon
Is your adult child struggling with anxiety or depression? Pamela Henkelman talks with authors Hope Blanton and Christine Gordon, who share practical ways moms…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom242. How to Stay Steady When Your Adult Child is Struggling with Therapist Carol Moore
Watching your adult child struggle can bring up fear, worry, and the urge to step in and fix everything. Therapist Carol Moore, known as Hey Mom on Instagram…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom241. How to Help Your Struggling Adult Child Without Rescuing Them
When your adult child is struggling, every mom wants to step in and make things better. But rescuing your grown child can keep them from building the…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom240. How to Trust God When You Can't Control the Outcome with Fiction Writer Cheryl Esper Balcom
What happens when the life you've carefully built suddenly falls apart? In this final episode of the Her Next Chapter series, Pamela sits down with author…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom239. How to Let Go of Emotional Baggage in Midlife with Author Lisa Najarian
What emotional baggage have you been carrying for far too long? In this episode of the Her Next Chapter series, Pamela talks with Lisa Najarian, founder of the…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom238. How Women Reach Their Full Potential in Midlife with Entrepreneur Alli Worthington
In this episode of the Her Next Chapter series, Pamela sits down with mentor, coach, and bestselling author Alli Worthington to talk about Alli’s passion to…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom237. How to Build Financial Confidence in Midlife with Author Crystal Paine
Do you feel confident about your finances as you head into the next chapter of life? Crystal Paine, founder of Money Saving Mom and author of The 7 Habits of…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom236. Why Midlife Weight Gain Happens with Dr. Heather Awad
Weight gain during perimenopause and menopause can feel confusing, especially when the strategies that worked for years suddenly stop working. In this premiere…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom235. When the Empty Nest Never Comes: Parenting an Adult Child with Special Needs with Cindi & Joe Ferrini.
Many parents dream about the day their children launch into adulthood, but for families raising children with special needs, the empty nest may look very…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom234.The Grief No One Warned Empty Nest Moms About with Author Lisa Appelo
Why does letting go of our children hurt so much, even when they're exactly where they're supposed to be? In this episode, Pamela sits down with author Lisa…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom233. Will My College Student Keep Their Faith? with Author Paul Worcester
Sending your child to college is one of the biggest transitions of motherhood, especially when you're wondering if they'll continue to follow Jesus once…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom232. Why Dropping Your Child Off at College Hurts So Much
Dropping your child off at college is one of the most emotional milestones of motherhood. In this episode, Pamela shares six reasons this transition hurts so…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom231. When Your Adult Child Walks Away from God: Hope from Zach Williams’ Parents
What do you do when your adult child walks away from faith? In this hopeful conversation, I’m joined by Steve and Jenia Williams, parents of Christian artist…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom230. How to Stay Emotionally Steady During Conflict with Your Adult Child
Conflict with an adult child can leave a mom feeling hurt, anxious, and unsure how to respond. In this episode, Pamela shares six practical ways to stay…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom229 How to Let Go of Mom Guilt and Parenting Regrets in the Empty Nest with Author Laurie Davies
Do you struggle with guilt over past parenting mistakes? In this conversation, author Laurie Davies shares why so many empty-nest moms carry regret and how God…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom228. How to Be a Peaceful Mom of Adult Children: 6 Ways to Let Go and Trust God
Are you exhausted from worrying about your adult children? In this episode, Pamela shares six practical ways to become a more peaceful mom by letting go of…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom227. Trusting God in the Waiting Seasons of Motherhood with Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright
Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright, granddaughter of Billy Graham, joins me to talk about her new book, God Won’t Leave You There, and the powerful lessons empty-nest…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom226. When Families Become Estranged and How Healing Begins with Therapist Rachel Haack
Family estrangement can leave moms feeling heartbroken, confused, and unsure where to turn. In this episode, therapist Rachel Haack shares insight into the…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom225. When Your Adult Child Goes No Contact: Understanding Family Estrangement with Tania Khazaal
In this heartfelt conversation, family estrangement expert Tania Khazaal shares her personal journey from estrangement with her own mother to reconciliation…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom224. When an Adult Child Cuts You Off: Hope and Healing for Estranged Moms with Nicole Coates
What do you do when your relationship with your adult child is marked by distance or estrangement? In this episode, estranged mom mentor Nicole Coates shares…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom223. When Your Adult Child Pulls Away: Understanding Estrangement and What to Do Next
Estrangement with an adult child is one of the most painful and confusing experiences a mom can face. In this episode, we’re talking about what estrangement…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom222. What Every Mom Needs: Finding Peace When You Feel You Have to Hold It All Together with Author Nicole Suvar
If you’ve been holding everything together and feeling the weight of it, this conversation is for you. Author Nichole Suvar joins me to talk about her book, I…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom221. What Every Mom Needs: Parenting Teens & Adult Kids at the Same Time with Courtney Doyle
HELPFUL LINKS: Cozy Earth Website here 20% Off Discount Code: MOMMA Connect with Courtney here Free Guide: Journaling Through Transitional Grief here Apply for…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom220. What Every Mom Needs: Healing from Mother Wounds with Best-Selling Author, Melanie Shankle
In this honest and hope-filled conversation, Pamela sits down with author Melanie Shankle to discuss healing from the wounds many women carry from their…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom219. What Every Mom Needs: Navigating the Shift When Your Mom Ages with Sharon Schneider
There comes a moment in midlife when the roles begin to shift, and the woman who once cared for you now needs care from you. In this heartfelt conversation, I…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom218. When a Prodigal Comes Home: Encouragement for Moms of Wayward Adult Children with Judy Douglass
Watching an adult child walk away from faith can be one of the most painful experiences a mother faces. In this episode, author and podcast host Judy Douglas…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom217. When Your Adult Child Rejects God: 6 Ways to Love Them Like the Father Does
What do you do when your adult child no longer believes in God and is captured by the world? In this episode, we look at the father in the parable of the…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom216. When Your Child’s Rebellion Is Really Grief: Blended Families with Pastor Inés Franklin
Pastor Inés Franklin joins Pamela to talk about the hidden grief many children carry when families change because of divorce, remarriage, or other transitions…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom215. When Your Adult Child Walks Away: Overcoming Shame as a Christian Mom
When your adult child walks away from the faith, heartbreak is only part of the story. Shame often follows close behind. In this episode, Pamela shares six…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom214. How to Love Your Empty Nest Mornings with Author Jennifer Dukes Lee
What if learning to love your morning could change the way you experience the empty nest? Pamela talks with Jennifer Dukes Lee about her book How to Love Your…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom213. Seven Ways Your Intimacy with God Deepens as You Grow Older
Does your relationship with God feel different in midlife? In this episode, Pamela shares 7 ways intimacy with God deepens as you grow older, especially in the…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom212. How to Find Peace When Life Changes with Author Autumn Schoeck
Author Autumn Schoeck joins Pamela to discuss what it means to find peace in Christ during empty-nest transitions. If you’ve been feeling unsteady in this…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom211. A Simple Prayer Framework for Empty Nest Moms Who Are Tired of Worrying
Worry doesn’t disappear when our kids grow up; it just changes shape. In this episode, Pamela shares a simple, grace-filled prayer framework from Philippians…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom210. Good Daughtering in the Empty Nest: Caring for Aging Parents and Loving Adult Children Well with Dr Allison Alford
In this episode, Pamela talks with Dr. Allison Alford about her book Good Daughtering and the emotional tension many empty nest moms feel in midlife. As we…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom209. Why Communication Breaks Down in the Empty Nest and How to Fix It with Counselors Chris & Jamie Bailey
When the kids leave home, many couples discover they don’t know how to talk anymore. Christian marriage counselors Chris and Jamie Bailey share practical…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom208. When Your Empty Nest Marriage Feels Like Roommates: 6 Ways to Reconnect
Does your empty nest marriage feel more like roommates than partners? In this episode, we talk about why connection often fades after the kids leave home and…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom207. Praying Together in the Empty Nest: Rebuilding Spiritual Intimacy as a Couple with Bob and Pamela Henkelman
When the house gets quieter, many couples realize they’ve drifted spiritually. In this special episode, I sit down with my husband, Bob, a pastor and fellow…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom206. Six Ways to Strengthen Your Empty Nest Marriage When You Feel Like You’re Growing Apart
When the kids leave home, many women are surprised by an ache they didn’t expect; distance in their marriage. The house is quieter, the roles have changed, and…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom205. Six Questions Every Empty Nest Mom Should Ask to Discover Her God-Given Purpose
What’s your purpose now that your kids have left home? The empty nest often brings big questions about identity, meaning, and what God is doing next. In this…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom204. Finding Your Purpose in the Empty Nest with Author Julie Lefebure
What does purpose look like after the kids leave home? Author, speaker, and host of the Encouragement for Real Life podcast, Julie Lefebure, joins Pamela for a…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom203. Embracing Aging: Six Strategies for Confidence and Peace in Midlife
Aging doesn’t mean you’re fading; it means you’re deepening. In this encouraging episode, Pamela Henkelman shares six faith-filled strategies to help midlife…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom202: 200 Episodes of Faith, Family & the Empty Nest: Looking Back with Gratitude, Looking Ahead with Hope
We’re celebrating our 200th episode as Pamela Henkelman reflects on the beautiful journey of The Midlife Momma Podcast, from the early days of recording with…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom201. #1 Top Episode of 2025: Healing the Rift: Restoring the Relationship with Your Son/Daughter-in-Law with Kathy Cunningham
When the relationship with your son or daughter-in-law is strained, the ripple effects can touch every corner of your heart. Suddenly, the connection with your…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom200. #2 Top Episode of 2025: Why Talking to Your Adult Kids Feels So Hard and How to Fix It!
Ever walked away from a conversation with your grown child thinking, “What just happened?” You’re not alone, Momma. Communication in the empty nest can feel…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom199. #3 Top Episode of 2025: Avoid These 10 Phrases: What Not to Say to Your Adult Child
As moms, our words carry incredible power, especially with our adult children. We never intend to hurt them, but sometimes, without realizing it, what we say…
- The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom
198. #4 Top Episode of 2025: Letting Go of Control: Trusting God with Your Adult Children
What happens when your child’s choices take them down a path you didn’t expect, and you can’t fix it? In this heartfelt replay of one of our most-loved…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom197. How to Talk to Your Adult Kids with Respect (Even When You Disagree)
When your adult kids come home for the holidays, tough conversations can pop up fast. In this episode, Pamela shares how to talk with your grown children…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom196. Glory All Around: Finding Gratitude in Every Season
In this special Thanksgiving Day episode of The Midlife Momma Podcast, Pamela invites you to pause, breathe, and look for God’s glory all around you. Through…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom195. When the Holidays Don’t Look the Same: Finding Peace with Your Adult Children
Hey Momma, are your holiday expectations stealing your joy? In this episode, we’ll talk about how to let go of what “should be” and embrace what is. Learn six…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom194 Untangled Advent: Finding Hope & Rest in the Empty Nest with Author Megan Nilsen
Hey Momma, do the holidays feel different now that the kids are grown? In this heartfelt Advent conversation, Pamela Henkelman and guest Megan Nilson, author…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom193. When Grown Kids Can’t Come Home: Finding Peace and Joy in New Traditions
What happens when not everyone can make it home for the holidays? For many empty nest moms, this new reality brings a wave of disappointment, but it doesn’t…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom192. Staying Close When Your Grown Kids Live Far Away with Joanne McHugh
Hey Momma, what happens when your grown kids spread their wings, and their new home is in a different time zone? The distance can leave a tender ache in your…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom191. Overwhelmed by Your Adult Kids' Struggles? Soul-Care Practices for Moms
Are you feeling weighed down by the struggles of your adult kids? In this episode, Pamela shares six soul-care practices to help Christian moms move from…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom190. Overcoming Worst-Case Scenario Thinking About Your Adult Child with Coach Jennifer Collins
Do you ever find yourself spiraling into worst-case scenarios about your adult child? In this episode, Pamela sits down with Master Coach Jennifer Collins…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom189. Transitional Grief in the Empty Nest: How Christian Moms Can Cope with God’s Grace
Launching a child can leave even the strongest momma feeling undone. In this episode, we unpack transitional grief, what it is, how to recognize it, and why…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom188. Empty Nest Blessed: Finding Faith & Joy in the Empty Nest with Author Suzy Mighell
Author and creator of Empty Nest Blessed, Suzy Mighell, joins me for an uplifting conversation about finding faith and joy in the empty nest. Suzy shares what…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom187. When Your Adult Child Doubts God: Why Listening Matters More Than Fixing
What do you do when your adult child says, “I’m not sure I believe in God anymore”? In this episode, we explore how Christian moms can respond with grace…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom186. Boundaries with Adult Children: Phrases and Behaviors That Backfire
If you’ve ever struggled to set boundaries with your adult child, you’re not alone. Healthy boundaries with adult children aren’t about control; they’re about…
The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom185. Why Setting Boundaries Is a Gift to Your Adult Child
What if saying “no” could actually bring you closer to your grown kids? In this episode, discover why healthy, biblical boundaries can deepen connection…